Fight at boat ramp results in shooting death

John Paul Zubia, shown with his 4-year old son Colin in a picture posted on the social media website Facebook.

Photo courtesy of Facebook

By Cathryn Lindsay, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Thursday, February 13, 2014 at 05:06 PM.

REELSBORO — Two people were arrested around 4 p.m. Thursday in connection with the 12:30 a.m. shooting death of John Paul Zubia, 24, at the boat ramp on Lee Landing Road.

Cleveland Carraway has been charged with an open count of murder. Krista Lee has been charged with accessory after the fact and harboring a fugitive, according to Pamlico County Sheriff Billy Sawyer.

An informant gave the sheriff’s office information on Carraway’s location. Once there, officers called his cell phone until he finally answered, Sawyer explained. Carraway exited a home on Scotts Store Road in Grantsboro without incident, according to law enforcement.

According to Pamlico County Sheriff’s Deputy Capt. James Mitchell, about six or seven people gathered at the boat ramp for a confrontation stemming from a past disagreement, and Zubia was subsequently shot, probably by a handgun.

A person in the group called 911, Mitchell said. Zubia was transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead 1:10 a.m., according to hospital spokesperson Megan McGarvey.

Deputies believe there were two men involved in the shooting, but details were not available because of the continuing investigation.

“He destroyed an entire family,” said Sina Zubia, the victim’s mother. “He was the entire family’s baby. We will never be the same.”

REELSBORO — Two people were arrested around 4 p.m. Thursday in connection with the 12:30 a.m. shooting death of John Paul Zubia, 24, at the boat ramp on Lee Landing Road.

Cleveland Carraway has been charged with an open count of murder. Krista Lee has been charged with accessory after the fact and harboring a fugitive, according to Pamlico County Sheriff Billy Sawyer.

An informant gave the sheriff’s office information on Carraway’s location. Once there, officers called his cell phone until he finally answered, Sawyer explained. Carraway exited a home on Scotts Store Road in Grantsboro without incident, according to law enforcement.

According to Pamlico County Sheriff’s Deputy Capt. James Mitchell, about six or seven people gathered at the boat ramp for a confrontation stemming from a past disagreement, and Zubia was subsequently shot, probably by a handgun.

A person in the group called 911, Mitchell said. Zubia was transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead 1:10 a.m., according to hospital spokesperson Megan McGarvey.

Deputies believe there were two men involved in the shooting, but details were not available because of the continuing investigation.

“He destroyed an entire family,” said Sina Zubia, the victim’s mother. “He was the entire family’s baby. We will never be the same.”

“Zubia was a leader on the football field, and a dang good defensive lineman,” according to Pat Whitford, former head football coach for Pamlico High School. “He was a good person, a good teammate.”

The SBI is assisting with the investigation at the request of the Pamlico County sheriff, explained Noelle Talley, the Public Information Officer at the N.C. Department of Justice. The SBI was called in early this morning and several agents were at the scene.

Carraway and Lee are being held at the Pamlico County Jail. There bail information was not yet available.

Previous version of this story

REELSBORO — The victim of the 12:30 a.m. Thursday shooting at the boat ramp on Lee Landing Road has been identified as John Paul Zubia, 24, of Pamlico County.

According to Pamlico County Sheriff’s Deputy Capt. James Mitchell, about six or seven people gathered at the boat ramp for a confrontation, that there had been a past disagreement, and Zubia was subsequently shot, probably by a handgun.

A person in the group called 911, Mitchell said. Zubia was transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead 1:10 a.m., according to hospital spokesperson Megan McGarvey.

Deputies believe there were two men involved in the shooting, but details were not available because of the continuing investigation.

“Zubia was a leader on the football field, and a dang good defensive lineman,” according to Pat Whitford, former head football coach for Pamlico High School. “He was a good person, a good teammate.”

The SBI is assisting with the investigation at the request of the Pamlico County sheriff, explained Noelle Talley, the Public Information Officer at the N.C. Department of Justice. The SBI was called in early this morning and several agents were at the scene.